Sheba

A lovely couple came to a CIW Adoption Fair hoping to find a dog that would be just the right companion for them. We didn't have anyone that seemed just right. Sheba's first owner had passed away and this 10 year old little girl had found herself in the Humane Society. Lucky for her, Sherri from Muttville, rescued her. We contacted Muttville, who specialize in rescuing older dogs, and guess what - they had a little dog that they had just rescued that just fitted this couple's wishes. It was Sheba! CIW brought Sheba and this wonderful couple together and a match was made. CIW also made new rescue friends. It was a win all the way round for everyone!

Bella and Skylar

In March 2009, five kittens were born to a feral Mom cat who was living under the Mountain House Restaurant on Skyline Blvd. All the kittens were rescued. Two of the kittens were adopted by members of the restaurant staff! One kitten was taken in by another rescue group and 2 kittens came to CIW. This wonderful brother and sister grew into beautiful cats who are very bonded with each other and their human. They waited a long time for their "forever" human to find them but find them he did. He had lost his elderly cat and finding a new companions had not been successful. Then he met Bella and Skylar and he knew he had found the companions he'd been looking for! We are so very happy for you all! (Bella is being held by her foster mom in the picture.)

Willy

Willy and his sister had a very bad start. As very young puppies, they were passed around through several homes before they were 2 months old! His last foster family were forced by their landlord, to surrender the puppies to Palo Alto Animal Services. Willy's sister was adopted but Willy's forever family never appeared. In October '09 Willy came to CIW when he was a 4 month old pup. He went through the natural puppy growing phases, chewing, barking, potty training, tearing paper, stealing things, learning how to be a great companion dog. He's smart and learns quickly. Just at the right time, along came the perfect family who were looking for a little dog to join their family. They fell in love with Willy. Their other companions dogs fell for Willy too! How wonderful is that!

Maddie

Three year old Maddie had a great family who had 2 other older dogs and several cats. Her Mom was feeliing that Maddie wasn't getting as much as she should and maybe there was a home for her where she could shine a bit more. So she contacted CIW. Maddie is a bit of a shy girl but at the Adoption Fair she met her new Mom. They met eyes and spoke volumes. Now Maddie has a canine sister who has accepted her and Maddie and her Mom can speak volumes all the time. That's a big deal! Many happy years together!

Josephine and Violet

So many families have adopted kittens and then never had them spayed or neutered. The families didn't want the resulting kittens, either giving them away so they too will produce unwanted kittens or dumping the kittens into neighborhood yards to make them someone else's problem. How irresponsible and so unneighborly! That is how Josephine, Violet and their brother came to be rescued. All were dehydrated and very young. The girls were very ill and took a long time to recover. But they lucked out because the neighbor cared about the kittens. When they were healthy and spayed, she called CIW to help place the girls. The brother had found his forever home earlier. Four months to the day that the girls first came to a CIW Adoption Fair, they went to their "forever" home. Their new family knew that the girls were meant to be a part of their family. Their foster mom knew it too! Isn't it fun when everyone is happy?!

Kirby

Kirby was a well-loved member of a family for many years. Along came a baby and some of Kirby's behaviors began to cause problems. Kirby's 1st family were concerned for their toddler and made the hard decision to rehome Kirby. Luckily for Kirby, a wonderful dog trainer and pet sitter was there and felt that all Kirby needed was to be retrained because he was a good dog who just didn't know his place. After months of work, CIW was called to see if we could help. It was felt that Kirby was ready to find his new family. He trusted humans to be the alpha of the pack and to keep him safe. He didn't have to try to take charge of situations. Then one weekend one of his eyes suddenly swelled up. It was a luxated lens from glaucoma. The decision was made to remove the eye. During his recovery, his foster family realized that Kirby was in his "forever" home. He wasn't going anywhere. How wonderful! We are all jumping for joy for many more wonderful years together for you all!

Maeve and O'Malley

A very young semi feral Mom cat had her 6 babies in a garage in Half Moon Bay. She was one of the luckier ones. People took her and her babies under their care. They made sure they all were safe and had good food and that people loved them. Mom cat is now spayed and being cared for. Two of the kittens were given away and we hope they have received their vaccinations and are spayed/neutered. The other 4 kittens came to CIW. Maeve and O'Malley have found their forever family. They have had their vaccinations, are spayed and micro chipped and ready for a long, happy life with their family! Whoopee!!

Lucky

In May 2009 a young kitten was found in a woodpile in El Granada, meowing his head off. Luckily, a lovely couple rescued him and were willing to help him. They called Companions and asked if we could find him a home. The kitten, whom they called "Lucky," turned out to be a special little boy. He has a stubby tail, and has almost no nails on three of his feet. He needed a family who appreciated his uniqueness and loved his personality. Guess what? That family found him! They met him in the Fall and waited, but didn't let their second chance slip by. Now Lucky has a little girl to grow up with, and wonderful adults to love him and care for him. What a fortunate family!

Andy

In July '09, 7 kittens were born in Pacifica to a feral Mom cat. The kittens were rescued from the feral life style when they were very young but their rescuer was not able to help them. A wonderful foster Mom was found and the kittens started to grow and thrive. The smallest little girl found her "forever" Mom first. The other kittens continued to grow through the normal colds and infections. They were all spayed/neutered and vaccinated. They are happy healthy wonderfully sweet kittens who needed help to find their "forever" families. Andy's foster Mom decided that Andy was just who she needed have join her family. Now isn't that just perfect!

Gus & Annabelle

Pretty little Annabelle was another one of the seven kittens rescued from a feral life in '09. Her youngest sister and one of her brothers found their "forever" families. Next it was Annabelle's turn. Annabelle's new Mom tells us that Annabelle was a little shy at first but was the star of the show at her younger son's birthday party. Annabelle just soaked up all the attention that was showered on her.

Gus was one of 4 kittens born to a family kitty who had not been spayed. Three of his siblings were given to families but CIW was asked to help find Gus his "forever" family. Before he was placed, he was neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped. When he was ready, his forever family found him. They were looking for very social kittens that would fit into their family. When they met Gus and Annabelle, they knew they had met the kittens that were meant to be a part of their family. Gus acted like he knew that this was his home from the very first. Isn't it wonderful when fate takes a hand in the future. We are so happy for you all. Many, many long, happy years together!

Bentley

In October, 4 small dogs were found abandoned sitting on a blanket at the wilderness edge of Christmas Hill Park in Hollister. They were just waiting for someone to come back for them. They all showed signs of long term neglect. Bentley was one of the four. His coat was matted and filthy dirty. His eyes were crusty and his ears were inflamed. One thing shone through and that was his sweet, gentle temperament. As we got to know him we discovered his playful personality. He's a "honey bear" of a little boy. A visit to the groomers made a world of difference for our scruffy little boy. A trip to the wonderful doctors at Veterinary Vision told us that Bentley couldn't see see very well but medication could maybe help. Medication would also help his ear infection. We thought Bentley had found his "forever" family but it wasn't to be. Then early in 2010 one of CIW's adoptive families mentioned that they were looking for a companion dog for the little girl they had adopted. They met Bentley. He went for a play date which was extended to a sleep over and Ben had found his "forever" family for sure! They asked him to come and be part of their family! His Dad says that Benny loves to go for walks and playing with his little sister. He has received a glowing report about his eyes too! He is one lucky boy. He is a member of one wonderful family!

Sophie

In early December, a call came to CIW asking for help rehoming a cat. As it turned out, the family was moving to Australia and didn't want to take their family kitty. The family canvassed the neighbors for a possible home for Sophie. A wonderful neighbor helped but the placement didn't work for Sophie so she contacted CIW again. This time Sophie came to CIW. Then a magical thing happened. A call came from a Mom and daughter who were looking to invite an adult kitty to be a member of their family. Sophie fit every point on their wish list for their special new family member. Sophie has found her "forever" home. Magic is a powerful force! Congratulations to you all!

Micky

Micky was a star found in Gilroy and taken to the San Martin Animal Shelter. It was clear that Micky had ben a member of a family. He knew how to behave in a home. He enjoyed being around people. He was great with other dogs and cats. He was just a great little boy! Why wasn't he with his family? No one knows. He had no micro chip and no tag and no one looking for him. Luckily an angel brought him to CIW. In due course a wonderful Mom and daughter saw Micky's picture and asked to come and meet him and the rest is history. Micky was invited to become a member of their family. He has a best young beagle bud next door. They have already had play dates. Most of all he has a family who love him. How perfect is that?

Beau

The stories about banks foreclosing on families homes are heartbreaking and they never seem to end. So many neighbourhood families have been affected. Beau's story is particularly sad and it might have been a lot sadder had it not been for neighbours helping each other. An elderly Mom was very ill and in a nursing home and her daughter had suffered an aneurysm as was also in hospital. The bank was foreclosing on their house and there was to be an auction the next day. The problem was that the family's four cats were still in the home. A very kind neighbour who had been looking after the cats, took the older two kitties to her home. The younger two brothers were taken to a veterinary hospital where one of the brothers was found to be diabetic and extremely ill. It was decided that the kindest thing that could be done for him was to let him go to Rainbow Bridge. The fourth kitty was taken in as a foster by another neighbour while CIW looked for a "forever" home. Little did we know that Beau and his foster Dad developed a special connection. Beau was also working his charms on his younger kitty sisters and Mom too. It was decided that this 12 year old handsome boy had found his "forever" family! We are so happy for you all!

Gidget

In 2009, CIW was contacted to help find a new home for a sweet cat. The chemistry wasn't working in Gidget's present home and her caretaker felt there must be a better match for her somewhere. There were two small problems. Gidget loved being petted, brushed, and curling up with her person but she didn't like to be picked up and she didn't seem to get along with other cats. Gidget came along to the Adoption Fairs and was as good as gold but her "forever" family didn't see her. Then came CIW's Winter break. She needed to move from her caretaker's home. We found a wonderful foster home for her with no other animals (check), indoor only (check), and a wonderful man who understands cats (check). By the end of the break Gidget's foster Dad said that Gidget had been telling him for a couple of weeks that she was happy and didn't want to move. He smiled as he responded, "What could I do?" When you see her it is so very clear that Gidget has found her "forever" place! We couldn't be happier for this lovely little girl and her new Dad! Hip, hip, hooray!

Atticus

Way back in February, a little, young chihuahua was picked up as a stray in Hollister. No one came looking for him at the San Martin shelter in Gilroy. The shelters in the valley are so over run with stray animals that they are not able to hold the animals for very long. If the animals are not adopted, recovered by the owners or if a rescue group does not come and take the animals, they are euthanized. One of the shelter staff was looking out for this little dog. Atticus was able to stay longer than normal but eventually his time ran out. Instead of being put to sleep, he was scooped up and sent to a foster home with a wonderful lady who has rescued several dogs for CIW. Although quite a number of people met Atticus and some asked him to be a member of their family, none were quite right. Atticus didn't like to be away from his foster Mom and didn't show well at the Fairs, so he stopped coming. Then we realized that Atticus had made the decision. He decided that his foster Mom was his perfect forever Mom and she agreed! What do you know about that!

Maude

Maude and her daughter were picked up as strays in Mountain View near the end of October and taken to Palo Alto Animal Services. Her daughter found the family that was meant for her, but sweet little Maude was still waiting her forever family to find her at the beginning of December. Maude waited patiently, expectantly but no one came. CIW was doing our final weekend of Adoption Fairs for 2009 and we felt that we should have another dog join us. So we asked PAAS if there was a dog they would like to us to borrow and the immediate response was "Maude!" A lovely couple saw her and felt that Maude was just the dog her sister was looking for. Her sister's long time companion had passed away and she missed the company of a furry four-footed family member. The sister came and met Maude and a match was made. Maude's new Mom felt that Maude was bringing her happiness and joy and needed a name that meant joy and happiness. Maude is now Simcha which means happiness or joy in Hebrew. Since she went to her new home near the beginning of Hanukkah, it seems very right. Many happy, joyful years to you both!

Frizzy

Frizzy was picked up as a stray in Mountain View and taken to the Palo Alto Animal Services in September. She had a problem with her skin and fur and she had lost fur from parts of her body. It was suspected that she might have a skin mite problem but none were found. She was treated anyway and it seemed to help. In our ongoing program, CIW asked PAAS to borrow a couple of dogs for an Adoption Fair in October and Frizzy was chosen. At the Fair we noticed that her shin became quite red and we wondered if she might have stress problems or if it could be food allergy related. We weren't going to find out if she was in the shelter, so Frizzy came to CIW. In the home environment her skin remained normal and her food was monitored but she still became very pink at the Fairs. Then at one Fair, one of the CIW volunteers fell under Frizzy's charm. She wanted to give this little sweetie a calming soak and rest is history. Frizzy, now Daisy, has three feline family members to get to know, as well as her human family. She's one very lucky little girl with a very lucky family! Yippee!!

Sammy

At CIW we have animals come to us in all stages of care or not. Most times we have no idea of what their lives were like before they came to us and they're not talking! Our job is to observe and see what their behavior tells us. Take Sammy for example. He was filthy dirty, matted and a little shy especially of men when he was picked up as a stray. He was very nervous of crossing thresholds, whether it be from outside to indoors or from one room to another. He didn't know his "inside the house good manners" and even though he was between one and two years old, he hadn't been neutered. From his behaviors, this is what we think is his background. He wasn't a purebred so he probably wouldn't have been used for breeding. Because he was fearful of doorways and he had no "in home" good manners, he was probably kept in a backyard run supervised by a man and not part of a family. He was very scared when he went to the groomers so he either had never been before or he'd had a bad experience. One other thing we learned was that Sammy was a sweet, smart, quick learning little boy who really wanted to be close to his people and to please them. Sammy needed to find a family who understood what he could do and who had the patience to help him learn what he didn't know. And he found them! Now he has two canine sisters to help him model the good things to do and humans to help him learn and who think he is just fabulous - and so he is. How wonderful is that!

Shadow and Vader

Seven kittens were born to a feral Mom cat. Three of the kittens were caught and re-socialized when they were very young. Two of the brothers found their forever family earlier this year. Two more of the kittens were trapped but the smallest kitten was very sic and she left us. The last two kittens were caught but they had been exposed to feline distemper. There was no way to help them and they joined their little sister at Rainbow Bridge. The two surviving boys, Shadow and Vader, have been waiting for their "forever" family. Then along came the perfect family for the two little boy kittens. The family had wanted to invite a kitten to join their family. When they met the brothers, they decided that two boys were just the right number. Now Shadow and Vader have Mom and Dad, tow girls and a brother to get to know, a big friendly dog and another kitty to play with. How exactly right!

Daphne

Back in early 2005 CIW was contacted by a long time friend who was feeding a colony of feral cats. A cat had turned up in the colony who was definitely not feral. Could we help take her in and find a "forever" home for her and we did! Daphne came to CIW. Not long after, Daphne was adopted and was to be with a very nice lady in a retirement complex at a very busy intersection in Palo Alto. Less than a week later, Daphne went exploring and got outside the complex and couldn't get back inside. Many angels helped to look for her by keeping a feeding station going, putting up Lost Kitty flyers, searching. She was out on the streets for a month. One night when one her angels was putting out food, she noticed Daphne and we we able to trap her and bring her back to CIW. Quite a while later, Daphne was again adopted to a wonderful young couple whose male kitty was missing his sister who had passed away. He liked Daphne but she didn't like him so back she came to CIW. She hated going to the Adoption Fairs. She would curl up in a back corner of the cage and try to best to become invisible. So she stopped coming and then no one saw what a wonderful little girl she is until her new Mom and her daughter came to the house to see her. Daphne won their hearts and she was invited to become a member of the family. Mom says that wherever she is Daphne is right there with her! One wonderfully, friendly, sweet little cat has found her "forever" Mom! We are jumping for joy for you all!

Taro

Taro was found as a stray and taken to the San Martin shelter in Gilroy in mid October. He had very matted fur and was filthy dirty but cute. After he had a bath and was groomed he was even cuter. It didn't take a grooming for Taro to find his family. They had rescued Shih Tsu's previously but all their companions had passed away. They had just recently moved back to California after having lived in Hawaii for several years. When they saw Taro and heard what his name was, all the happy Hawaiian memories with their previous dogs came flooding in. They knew that fate had brought them together. Taro was meant to be a member of their family. Now they are creating more happy memories together in California. How wonderful!

Willis

Near the end of September, a very scared, dirty, matted, young poodle mix was found hiding under a truck on the grounds of the San Martin animal shelter. The only way he could have gotten there was to be dropped or thrown over a 6-foot fence. In early October, CIW was doing a special canine adoption fair at Anthropologie in Palo Alto. Willis was brought to our attention and we asked if he could come to the fair. He was such a mess but his inner charm shone through. Everyone wanted to know about Willis. The next day Jennifer Celestre of Able Body Pet Care and Christina of Pampered Pup in Half Moon Bay turned our little tramp into a very handsome prince of a boy! At the next adoption fair, a wonderful lady whose long-time companion had passed away earlier this year walked into the Fair. She had come shopping with a friend, had seen our sign, and had come in to say "Hello". She met Willis and knew that this little guy was to be her new companion. How cool is that? We can't imagine a better home for this little boy who has a new name, Dudley. We can't imagine a more wonderful little boy for a special lady. Win-win all around!

Nin (black) and Stuart (grey)

Everything had begun well. The boys had been born in a home. They had their Mom and siblings to play with and wonderful folks to look after them all and they had been chosen by a very nice family to become part of the new family. But life doesn't always work the way one expects. Stuart and Nin's (pronounced Neen) first adoptive family had problems and these wonderful 2 year old brothers needed to find a new "forever" family. How hard is it to find a home for an adult cat, never mind a pair of brothers who need to stay together! Then out of the blue the perfect "forever" Mom appeared. CIW friend Lynn Macy of The Pet Place in Menlo Park called to say one of the very special customers/friend had lost her long time companion dog as was looking for a pair of adult sibling cats. Did we have any? When this lovely lady saw Nin and Stuart's picture, she felt they needed her, and so they did! Now they have their special home and their special Mom and new names, Sammy and Maxi. for their new life. Life can't get any better than this!

Freddy

Freddy was rescued from a culvert in a Northern California campground. He was very thin at the time. What his rescuer knew was that Freddy needed a new home! CIW was contacted to see if we could help. What only became apparent during his physical exam, was that he had a fractured pelvis. To repair it involved a prohibitively expensive surgery. With the co-operation from the two veterinarians involved and donations by wonderful animals friends, the surgery was planned, only to be cancelled. When x-rays were taken just before surgery, the fracture was healing well on its own! The surgery was deemed not necessary at this time and maybe never! Yeah!

In the meantime a lovely lady had come to a CIW Adoption Fair looking for an adult, black and white, social kitty to join she, her husband and their resident kitty. She heard about Freddy and when they meet Freddy, it was love at first purr! Even when the fracture was discovered, their commitment to adopt Freddy didn't waver. How wonderful is that? Freddy fit right into the family as if he had been there forever. He has a new name, Po-Po and a wonderful family and feline brother to play with. His guardian angel did a super job with this special boy!